Holder for nursing bottles, pacifiers and teething elements



J. P. MARTIN HOLDER FOR NURSING BOTTLES, PACIFIERS AND TEETHING ELEMENTS Flled Dec 4, 1964 Dec. 6, 1966 INVENTOR JOSEPH P. MARTIN ATTORNEYS United States Patent This invention relates to a holder for nursing bottles, pacifiers and teething elements.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive structure adapted to be easily and quickly applied to the upper edge portion of any type carrier or holder for infants or very young children, which carrier or holder may be a crib, a baby carriage or merely a holder for babies, of the nature of those in which the carrier is itself cradled in the arm of a parent or nurse when the baby is being moved from place to place, or is deposited a fixed position where it is likely to remain for an appreciable length of time.

,The construction and advantages of the invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of infant carrier having the device of the invention applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a goose-neck supporting structure and a clamping means therefore by which the supporting structure may be attached to an upstanding wall of an infant carrier.

FIG. 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the clamp, upon line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an annular head in which a conventional nursing bottle may be supported with such freedom of movement as to permit the axis of the nursing bottle to move to positions slightly out of alignment with the axis of an annular head.

FIG. 5 is a transverse, vertical section through the annular head.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal, sectional view through the annular head upon line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a detail, sectional view through the outer end portion of the goose-neck support hereinafter described.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the support of the annular head, the structure of FIG. 8 being adapted for slidable mounting upon the outer end of the goose-neck supporting structure.

In the drawing 5 designates an upwardly directed side pontion of a holder or carrier for a baby or very young child. The device of the invention comprises two separable portions, one of which is attached to and supported from the carrier or holder of the baby, and the other of which carries elements adapted to engage and hold a nursing bottle of conventional form, in such position that the nipple of the nursing bottle will be directed toward the mouth of the baby in the carrier.

The separability of the two portions of the device makes it possible to readily wash the nursing bottle and the supporting elements and also makes it possible to turn the bottle carrying port-ion to such positions as to present toward the mouth of the child either the nipple of the nursing bottle or the mouth engaging portions of a pacifier or portions of the structure of such durability, flexibility and softness as to be adapted to be used as 21 teething device.

The foregoing objectives are accomplished in a facile manner by providing a supporting element consisting of a flexible goose-neck 6. The lower or base portion of the goose-neck is secured to the upper edge portion 7 of the carrier body 5. A rigid clamp body 8 of inverted U-shape carries a pad 9 of any material that is adapted 3,289,986 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 to engage the inner face of the upper edge portion 7 of a carrier, in such manner as not to mar or damage the same. A second pad 10, likewise of non-marring material, is carried by a rigid plate 11, and in the act of attaching the goose-neck to the upper edge portion 7 the plate 11 and its pad 10 are thrust forcibly against the outer face of the upper edge portion 7 of the carrier by a set or thumb screw 12. The screw 12passes through the outer wall of clamp body 8 and these two parts have threaded engagements with each other for the purpose of binding the pad 10 against the carrier body 5 as described. Offset from the screw 12 the clamp body 8 is shaped to provide the vertical indentation 14 within which the lower or base portion of goose-neck 6 is received and in which indentation such base portion of the gooseneck may be rigidly-secured by soldering, welding or in any other approved mechanical procedure. The gooseneck 6 with clamp 8 constitutes a fixed or supporting part of the structure.

A removable head portion of the structure has a slipjoint mounting on the upper free end of the goose-neck 6.

This removable portion comprises a loop forming member 13 within which a nursing bottle 14 is mounted. The nursing bottle is not secured directly to the loop but is supported by an interposed bottle encircling elastic band 15. This band may be made of rubber or any other suitable material which by its elasticity adapts itto constrict upon and grip the exterior of the nursing bottle .14 in a firm and secure fashion. The'elastic band is secured at substantially, diametrically opposite points 16 to the loop i forming element 13'. Any suitable manner of attachment may be adopted, such, for example, as-riveting or strongly cementing the bands to the loop forming element. Where cementing is employed a highly waterproof cement is used sothat the parts'may be thoroughly washed in water of high temperature to thereby keep them in a clean and sterile condition. The attachment of the elastic .band at only two diametrically opposite points permits the nursing bottle to tip to a limited degree in all-directions out of alignment with the axis of the opening through the annular head. A carrier body 17 encircles the loop forming element and this carrier body serves to carry a pacifier indicated at 18 and this body itself serves as a teething element. In order that the body 17 may function as described, it is composed of a material, soft and .pliab-le enough so that the infant may chew upon it after such infant has passed the pacifier age and has reached an age where it is inclined to chew upon something. While the body 17 may be made wholly of a yieldable material, it is preferably made of an outside skin of soft yielding material shapedvto constitute an annulusand may be filled with a soft jelly like material as indicated at 170. This inclination to chew upon something is what causes the teeth of the infant to break through the membrance of the gums in the usual and known way. The removability of the bottle carrying structure and its associated parts from the goose-neck 6 renders it possible to dispose either the nipple of the nursing bottle or the nipple of the pacifier or the teething portion of the body 17 in a position where the child can readily bring its mouth into engagement with whichever one of these parts may be presented to it.

To prevent the child from taking too large a part of the pacifier into its mouth, a washer 19 may be secured to an extension 20 of the body 17 which constitutes the pacifier. While the washer 19 and the part of the pacifier which it surrounds have been indicated as comprising separate parts it is apparent that the extension 20 may be moulded to be of such size as to itself perform the function of the washer 19 to prevent the infant from taking too large a portion of the structure in its mouth.

The nature of the connection between the removable head and the goose-neck 6 may be'varied within Wide ranges. Slip-joints of this nature are used in many relations, such, for example, as in attaching the various tool attachments of vacuum cleaners to the air supply hoses of the vacuum cleaners. It is desirable, however, to have this slip-joint be of such nature that the parts may be brought into easy connection with each other. The removable portion will be held against turning bodily around the axis of goose-neck 6. If that be done, the nursing bottle will be held against moving out of line with the mouth of the baby, the pacifier will be prevented from moving out of line with the mouth of the baby and the teething portion will be held against turning to a position where the baby can-not readily engage it. To accomplish these desirable results, the goose-neck 6 may be provided with slots 6a which are adapted to receive conventional spring actuated detents 6b which snap into said notches when the two parts are slipped into engagement with each other and are turned to such position that the detents align with the notches.

I am aware of the fact that numerous nursing bottle holders adapted to be mounted upon a baby carrying holder are to be found in the prior art. However, I know of none in which there is combined in one simple and economical structure a mounting such as the elastic gooseneck which supports over an incumbent baby, a pacifier, a nursing bottle and a teething device, all arranged to be successively brought into functioning position in the manner described, and wherein all of the elements may be washed, scrubbed, scalded or otherwise cleansed in a manner to maintain them in a highly sanitary condition.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown and described but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A milk bottle supporting device of the character described adapted to be mounted upon a crib or other carrier for infants, said device comprising a fixed member, means for securing the lower end of the fixed member to an upstanding portion of an infant carrier, a head removably mounted on the upper end of the support, said head comprising an annular body having an opening formed therethrough, which opening is dimensioned to receive a conventional infants milk bottle, an elastic band within the head of a size to embrace the milk bottle, said head carrying a pacifier, said pacifier including a nipple, the remova bility of the head from its support permitting the turning of the head with respect to the support to such positions as to direct the nipple of the pacifier or the nipple of the nursing bottle toward the mouth of an infant reclining in said carrier.

2. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said head upon by an infant to facilitate the teething effects created by the sucking of the infant upon said teething portion of the head.

3. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, a fixed arcuate goose-neck having means at its lower end for fixing it securely upon an upstanding wall of a carrier for an infant, a head comprising an annular body, elastic means within annular body, said elastic means being dimensioned to yieldably grip a conventional nursing bottle, a pacifier structure upon the exterior face of the annular body, said annular body be ing formed of a material and having an area of a size to adapt said area to serve as a teething area, the removability of the head being effected by the provision of a slipjoin-t between the free end of the goose-neck and said head, the removability of said head making it possible to Wash and sterilize the milk bottle supporting means,

the pacifier structure and the teething area without interference by the goose-neck.

4. In a supporting device for the nursing bottles of infants an annular head, a relatively wide elastic band encircling the opening through said annular head, and means for attaching the elastic band to said head at substantially, diametrically opposite points, whereby to permit limited movement of the axis of a nursing bottle engaged by said elastic band out of alignment with the axis of the opening through aid annular head.

5. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, :a support in a form of an elastic goose-neck, clamp means for securing the lower end of the goose-neck support to an upstanding wall of a carrier for an infant, a head comprising an annular body so constructed that an area of its external surface presents a soft and pliable teething area, a pacifier structure protruding laterally from the exterior face of the annular body and a slip-joint connection between the head and the goose neck supporting structure, said slip-joint connection being constructed to permit the bodily removal of the head from the goose neck by an endwise pull, and also comprising means for preventing turning movement of the head upon the gooseneck supporting structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,189 8/1948 Mott 248-104 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,694 7/ 1956 Canada. 187,97 2 8/ 1907 Germany.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

K. J. WINGERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MILK BOTTLE SUPPORTING DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED UPON A CRIB OR OTHER CARRIER FOR INFANTS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A FIXED MEMBER, MEANS FOR SECURING THE LOWER END OF THE FIXED MEMBER TO AN UPSTANDING PORTIONOF AN INFANT CARRIER, A HEAD REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF THE SUPPORT, SAID HEAD COMPRISING AN ANNULAR BODY HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THERETHROUGH, WHICH OPENING IS DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE A CONVENSIONAL INFANT''S MILK BOTTLE, AN ELASTIC BAND WITHIN THE HEAD OF A SIZE TO EMBRACE THE MILK BOTTLE, SIDE HEAD CARRYING A PACIFIER, SAID PACIFIER INCLUDING A NIPPLE, THE REMOVABILITY OF THE HEAD FROM ITS SUPPORT PERMITTING THE TURNING OF THE HEAD WITH RESPECT TO THE SUPPORT TO SUCH POSITIONS AS TO DIRECT THE NIPPLE OF THE PACTIFIER OF THE NIPPLE OF THE NURSING BOTTLE TOWARD THE MOUTH OF AN INFANT RECLINING IN SAID CARRIER. 